dieterich



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. G. DIETERICH. VENDING MACHINE.

No. 434,127. Patented Aug. 12,1890.

THE NORHIS werzns 1:0 F'NOYD-LITHQ, vlAsmnnYoN. u. n.

2 m 1m mm A M E IG Dm No. 434,127. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED e. DIETERIOH, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AssIeNoE TO JOHN U. OMEARA, OF SAME PLACE.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,127, dated August 12, 1890;

Application filed April 26, 1890. Serial No. 349,666. manna.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED G. DIETERICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have in- Vented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apx: pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to vending-machines; and it refers more particularly to the machine for which patents were granted me March 11, 1890, Nos. 423,033,423,034, and April 22,1890,

I 5 No. 425,996; and it has for its object to add certain improvements to such machine which will render the same more attractive, and further to simplify some of the details, whereby the operation will be rendered more positive.

My invention consists more particularly in providing suitable deflectingdevices, whereby undue pressure on the article nearest the feed or discharge opening will be relieved, and

whereby the several articles contained in the merchandise-holder will be caused to feed one at a time down to such discharge-open- Ing.

It further consists in the sundry novel feao tures of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully described in the annexedspecification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying 5 drawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective view of my improved vending-machine, showing the same adapted for selling cigarettes in packages with the cigar-lighting attachment removed.

Fig. II is a detail front view of the face-plate of the machine with the cigar-lightingattachment in position. Fig. III is a detail rear view of the same. Fig. IV is a detail top plan, partly in section, of the front end of the machine. Fig. V is a vertical longitudinal section of the complete machine. Figs. VI, VII,

and VIII are detail views, hereinafter specifically referred to. Fig. IX is a detail view of the supplemental boX. Fig. X is a crosssection of the same in connection with a cigarbox, with the restraining cords or tapes turned under the cigars; and Figs. XI and XII are detail perspective views of the combined supporting and deflector plates.

In the practical application of the vending- 5 5 machine referred to in the patents before named I have found that one of the most essential features of novelty in machines of this character is to render their appearance attractive and their construction simple in all details, so that in case of any'failure of the parts operating properly the owner or attendant can adjust same in a few moments without the necessity of removing the machine from the counter or its support. The utility of the machine is also greatly increased by allowing the main working parts to be in sight of the purchasers, as the desire to see the machine work will often tempt them to drop in a nickel whether they desire to purchase or not. To this end I arrange in connection with the machine a cigar-lighting or other desired ornamental device to be detachably held thereto, and yet held locked therewith; and to further increase the novelty and attracfiveness of the machine, I arrange a revolving wheel or disk which is adapted to indicate the particular character of the coin which will operate the machine, and which also acts as a wheel of fortune, which will serve to amuse and interest the public, said disk being adapted to be detachably held to the front plate of the machine, so that in case the coin parts are set to be operated bya cent another disk with a cent-mark can be in serted, thereby making the same machine adapted for use for either a penny or a nickel article. In connection with this combined indicator-disk andwheel of fortune I arrange suitable devices intermediate the deliveryslide and the said disk, whereby when the article bought is discharged the movement of the said slide will serve to spin the wheel of fortune, thereby offering great inducement to the locker-on to buy the articles contained 5 in the machine just to try his luck. Furthermore, to prevent any dishonest persons from making a false claim of having inserted a nickel in the slot, and that the machine did not feed the article, I arrange an alarm-gong within the machine, which can only be rung when the delivery-slide has been pulled out,

such movement being impossible without the insertion of the proper coin.

While I have not shown a registering device on the machine, it is manifest that one can readily be placed therein to be operated by the operating slide in any well-known manner.

Having thus generally outlined the improved advantages obtained by the construction shown, I will now describe the several parts in detail, first stating, however, that no attempt has been made in this case to illustrate fully the coin-operating mechanism, as the same is precisely similar to that illustrated in my latest patent, No. 425,996, dated April 22, 1890.

The casing A, which is of a shape similar to the casing in my other patents, is formed of wooden sides and rear portion, a nickel or silver plated frame carrying the glass top and the ornamental metal front, as most clearly shown in Fig. I of the drawings. By referen cc "to Figs. II, III, IV, and V of the drawings, it

will be seen that I form the front plate B with an ornamental top portion b and a rearwardly-extending ledge 11', the central portion of which is formed with a sunken socket E, dovetail in cross section.

D represents a suitable ornament adapted to be held on the top of the portion 1), such ornament being preferably in the nature of a cigar-lighter, which may be also provided with a cutter d, as shown. To provide for conveniently attaching or detaching said ornament D and yet lock same in position so it cannot be stolen, I arrange the same with a standard (1', formed with a foot portion d dovetail in cross-section, which is adapted to fit into the dovetail-socket O in the ledge b,

and to render an exact fit unnecessary I arrange such standard with lateral wingsD D, which project over the upper edge of the part b and prevent any lateral movement of said ornament. To lock the said ornament in position, I arrange the top E with a rabbet e on its front edge, which laps the ledge 11' and the rear end d of the foot portion, and provide said top with the lugs 00 at, which project under the ledge b, the rear part of the top having the lug y, with which engages the compound locking-lever S, shown in my other patent, No. 423,034. By this construction it willbe observed that by the insertion of a single key I am enabled to unlock the top and the cash-box door (not shown) and at the same time allow for the ready removal of the ornament D, and by means of the lockingbar S and lugs :12 y, I can place the top E on the casing by slipping the lugs 00 00 under the ledge b,'and pressing the rear end down will cause the top cash-box door and the ornament to be automatically locked in place.

In Fig. V it will be seen that the machine is adapted for the sale of cigarettes in packages properly stamped. In this case the supplemental box is dispensed with. It will also be observed that I arrange over the discharge end of the merchandise-box a combined deflector and supporting-plate, which consists of a horizontal portion F, extended inward, such portion forming a feed-channel G between it and the reciprocating slide H of a size sufficient to allow one article or package to be fed to the discharge-opening at the time, said plate F also serving to hold any of the other packages from contact with the lowermost packages, and thereby leave them free and entirely relieved from pressure by any of the remaining packages, thereby rendering the feed of such lowermost package or cigar absolutely certain and preventing the possibility of anyjam at the feed opening. As the inclined position of the plate F- would serve to hold a number of packages from being fed to the mouth 9 of the channel G, I provide an upwardly-inclined portion F, which will serve to deflect such packages and cause them to pass down to said mouth g.

When cigarettes in packages or round boxes containing pens, proprietary articles, and the like are sold from the machine, special merchandise-boxes are provided with the support and deflector F F, formed of a single transverse strip (preferably sheet metal) bent to the shape shown; but when cigars are to be sold from their original box I arrange said combined deflector and support as shown in Figs. XI and XII, by reference to whielrit will be seen that I form the same in sections and secure them to the supplemental box J, and to provide for adjusting the height of the channel G, I make said sections vertically adjustable by passing the holding-screws through elongated slots in the foot portion of said sections, whereby the channel G may be made to accommodate a cigar of large or small diameter.

In my former patents I state that I remove the bottom of the cigar-box and lay thereover the reciprocating merchandise-holder, then insert same, and place itand the box of cigars in position in the machine.

To avoid the necessity of taking said merchandise-holder out of the machine, I secure elastic tapes or cords L to the sides of the supplemental box or goods-holder (see Figs. IX and X) and arrange them so that when the supplemental box is plaeedover the bottomless cigar-box I turn the tapes L over the cigars, which will serve to hold same from displacement when the box is inverted, as shown in Fig. X. By this means the cigar-box and the supplemental box can be readily placed on the merchandise-holder in the machine and the cords or tapes L slipped from under the same.

By reference to Fig. I of the drawings, it will be observed that I arrange below the word Drop a disk or Wheel R, upon which is designated the character of the coin to be inserted in the slot, and by reference to Fig. V it will be seen that such disk is detachably held to the front of the machine by providing same with a pintle 1, which fits an aperturet in the front and is held therein by means of a spring-key u, as shown.

The outer rim of the disk is milled or otherwise ornamented, and also divided into a series of divisions, each carrying a diiterent number or character, said disk representing what is commonly known as a wheel of fortune. By this construction it will be seen that the same not only serves as an indicator= disk, but also as a means of amusement to the buyer who desires to try his luck, said wheel being free to be spun bythe finger engaging the toothed peripheral edge.

To provide means whereby said disk may be operated automatically, I employ the construction shown in Figs. VI, VII, and VIII of the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen I arrange a swinging lever m, pivoted at m to the rearface of front B, and provide said lever on with a rearwardly-extending member m with which engages a cam projection n on the delivery-slide. (See Fig. VIII.) By this arrangement it will be seen that as the delivery-slide is pulled out the cam n will swing the lever m to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. VI, and as the slide is quickly drawn back by its spring the lever m will be quickly swung back by means of the spring w, which will cause the upper face of the lever (which may be covered with an elastic material) to engage a disk R on the inner end of the pintle r and cause the indicator disk or wheel to be spun.

0 denotes a gong, P a spring-hammer, and Q, a finger on the delivery-slide, which engages the hammer Pwhen said slide is pulled out.

As the other parts of the machine are precisely similar to that shown in my last patent referred to, further description is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

]. In a vending-machine essentially as described, the combination, with the front plate formed with a horizontal ledge I), provided with asocket O, of a removable ornamental top plate or advertising device formed with a foot portion adapted to seat in said socket O and be held to the front plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination,with the front plate B, formed with an upward extension I) and a rearward ledge 1), formed with a socket O, of a detachable ornamental cap-piece formed with a standard having a foot portion adapted to fit the said socket O, and lateral wing-portions adapted to fit over the upper edge of the extension b, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the front B, formed with an extension I), and a rearwardly-extending ledge I), having a socket O dovetail in cross-section, and the casing, of a standard held on said extension 1), formed with a dovetail foot portion adapted to fit the socket O,

the removable top formed with a rabbet adapted to fit over the rear edge of the ledge b, and the foot and means for locking the top to -thecase, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the dischargingslide and the front wall formed with an aperture, of a disk formed with a pintle held to revolve in said aperture, and, intermediate devices between said discharge-slide and disk,

whereby the movement of the said slide will cause the disk to spin, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a vending-machine essentially as described, the combination, with thev front B, formed with an aperture, a disk formed with a pintle held in said aperture, and a toothed disk held on the inner end of the pintle, of the discharging-slide formed with a cam or other projection, a spring-actuated pivoted lever disposed intermediate the slide and the toothed disk, said lever adapted to be rocked against the tension of the spring when engaged by the said cam and adapted to engage the toothed disk when pulled back by the spring and spin the indicator wheel or disk, substantially as and for the purpose de scribed.

6. In a vending-machine essentially as de scribed, the combination, with a reciprocating merchandise-holder formed with a discharge-outlet near one end, and a merchandise receiver or box held on said holder with its front wall normally inside the dischargeopening thereof, of a deflector or support held over the discharge end of the said box, whereby a free and uninterrupted movement of the lowermost article is permitted, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination, with the merchandiseholder formed with a dischargeopening in one end, of a merchandise-box adapted to be loosely held thereover, the discharge-opening of the support being normally outside the end of said box, an inwardly-projecting member secured to the box, whereby a channel G is formed and whereby the articles are adapted to feed to the discharge-opening one at a time, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination, with the inclined merchandise holder or support, the merchandise receptacle loosely held thereon, provided with an inwardly-projecting deflector consisting of the member disposed over the discharge opening in said slide, and an upwardly-inclined member adapted to lead the articles to the rear end of said deflector, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a vending-machine essentially as described, the combination, with the supplemental box, of deflector devices consisting of the horizontal member and the upwardly-inclined member, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a vending-machine, essentially as described, the combination, with the supplemental box formed in sections and held together for open adjustment, of the deflecting devices consisting of the divided members F F, arranged substantially in the manner shown, and for the purpose described.

11. In a'vending-machine essentially as described, the combination, With the merchandise-receptacle, of the deflecting and supporting devices consisting, of the horizontal member and the inclined member, said devices held on the inner Wall over the discharge end of the box and adapted for vertical adjustment in relation to the discharge end, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a vending-machine essentially as de scribed, the combination, with the supplemental box, of the elastic tapes held to the sides of the box and adapted to he slid under the bottom thereof, substantially as and for the purpose described.

13. The combination, with the dischargeslide and the casing, of a disk or spinning wheel held to revolve on the casing, and intermediate devices between said dischargeslide and disk, whereby the movement of the said slide will spin the disk, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED G. DIETERIOH.

Witnesses:

J 0s. A. RYAN, M. D. BLONDEL. 

